Community leaders in Delta State have strongly condemned the escalating campaign of misinformation being allegedly propagated by leaders of the Sapele Okpe Community. They accused them of spreading falsehoods about notable figures, including the Alema of Warri, High Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, and the Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Chief Edwin Uzor.
“The statements made about Chief Uduaghan, an administrative chief responsible for several communities in Warri North and Sapele Local Government Area, are grossly disrespectful and unwarranted,” the leaders said in a statement.
The response comes after representatives from the Sapele Okpe and Ugbukurusu communities launched a campaign with baseless allegations. They also accused the Sapele Okpe leaders of attempting to disrupt an ongoing investigation into land disputes and SEPLAT’s activities.
According to the Itsekiri leaders, the Sapele Okpe Community had allegedly fabricated intelligence to prevent an official committee visit to the SEPLAT operational areas.
“The fact that SEPLAT’s representatives were seen together with Sapele Okpe and Ugbukurusu community leaders during the visit, despite prior communication of the correct meeting points, raises serious concerns about their involvement in these narratives,” they remarked.
The Itsekiri leaders emphasized that the land issues surrounding the Okpe Sobo forest reserve have already been settled and are documented in Government White Paper No. 1 of 2021. They further stated that the Sapele Okpe Community has no legitimate claim to land within the reserve, and their allegations of encroachment are without merit.
“The true issue at hand is SEPLAT’s new drilling operations, which are currently being investigated. It is unreasonable for Sapele Okpe to assert claims over land that falls under the jurisdiction of Abigborodo, Obotie, and Ugbekoko communities, which have long-established rights to these areas,” they explained.
The leaders called on the Delta State Governor to disregard the Sapele Okpe Community’s claims and to allow the ongoing investigation to proceed without interference. They also assured the public that their communities, are fully prepared for any further visits or scrutiny.
“The leadership of Abigborodo and Ugbekoko communities will continue to support the investigation and assert their rights as impacted communities,” they declared.
Additionally, the Ugbekoko Community also responded, challenging the claims made by the Sapele Okpe and Ugbukurusu communities regarding land ownership. They emphasized that SEPLAT’s operations, including its flow stations and drilling sites, are located within Ugbekoko land, and that Sapele Okpe’s assertion of ownership lacks legal foundation.
The Ugbekoko leaders criticized Sapele Okpe for attempting to undermine the legitimate claims of Obotie and Ugbekoko communities and for spreading narratives that could jeopardize the peace-building efforts led by Chief Uzor.
They further highlighted that Sapele Okpe’s actions to call for the removal of Chief Uzor and his team were a direct attempt to derail the peaceful resolution process. “These actions are aimed at frustrating the investigation and clouding the true state of affairs,” they stated.
In a similar vein, leaders of the Obotie Community rejected the Sapele Okpe Community’s claims over the Okpe Sobo Forest Reserve. They pointed out that their community had been present in the area long before the constitution of the reserve and had established legal ownership of the land.
The leaders accused Sapele Okpe of engaging in deliberate misinformation and obstruction, aimed at disrupting the investigation and protecting SEPLAT’s interests at the expense of the rightful landowners.
“The unjustifiable and reckless attacks on the Special Adviser to the Governor and his team are part of a broader attempt to manipulate the system and deny the impacted communities their rightful benefits,” the Obotie leaders stated.
The Itsekiri leaders strongly criticized Sapele Okpe for their continued campaign and their attempt to manipulate SEPLAT’s operations for their own gain. They called on the Delta State Governor to ignore the accusations and ensure that the investigation proceeds in a fair and unbiased manner.
“We urge Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to disregard the attacks from the Sapele Okpe leadership, as they do not reflect the truth or the interests of the people of Delta State. The Governor’s responsibility is to all Deltans, and he should not allow himself to be swayed by the deceitful tactics of a few individuals,” the leaders concluded.
